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September 2, 2014

Officer Recovering After Being Stabbed Last Night

Oftentimes our Officers are placed in impossible situations and are called upon to somehow bring order and safety in chaos. This is one such situation. These officers risked their safety and sustained injury trying to do just that. We are pleased the situation was resolved without further injury to anyone.

An 8 year veteran of the Santa Cruz Police Department is recovering
from a stab wound inflicted by a suicidal person he was attempting to
apprehend.

On September 1, 2014, at approximately 6:00 PM, Santa Cruz Police
Officers responded to a report of a suicidal person.Family members called the police reporting
the suspect was suicidal and had cut his wrists.The suspect had fled from family members and
was at-large.

The officer and his partner (a 14 year veteran) located and contacted
the suspect:

Michael Paquette – 27 years, Santa Cruz resident

Mr. Paquette was found hiding in bushes behind a store in the 1700
block of Soquel Ave.The officers could
see Mr. Paquette was bleeding from the wrists and not responding to their
commands.

The officers approached and attempted to take the Mr. Paquette into
custody for medical treatment and psychiatric evaluation.As the officers grabbed on to Mr. Paquette,
he lashed out with a folding pocket knife.

Mr. Paquette stabbed one officer in the leg just below the knee, and
attempted to stab the second officer in the face. The second officer narrowly
escaped being stabbed, as she deflected the attack.

As Mr. Paquette attacked the second officer, the injured officer drew
and fired his Taser.The Taser darts struck
Mr. Paquette and caused him to fall to the ground and drop the knife.The officers were able to handcuff Mr.
Paquette without further resistance.

Mr. Paquette was taken to Dominican Hospital for medical treatment of
his self-inflicted wounds and then booked at Santa Cruz County Jail for Assault
with a Deadly Weapon Against a Police Officer.

The injured officer was treated and released at Dominican Hospital.He is home recovering from the stab
wound.